Needs Assessment: A Practical Approach to Student Selection for Special Programs.

Zyskowski, Gloria

Various strategies have been designed to address the needs of individuals who require supplementary assistance to maximize their potential through accelerated, compensatory, or special education programs. Proper identification of those students who can benefit the most from such services has become an important consideration for educators. In the case of Chapter 1, local school districts are required to conduct an annual needs assessment to qualify for continued federal funding. While this information is designated for use in program planning and, by implication, for student selection, it appears that the needs assessment process is not often approached with an awareness of its full potential. In this paper, the connection between needs assessment and student selection activities is demonstrated. In addition, techniques developed at a Chapter 1 Technical Assistance Center for the practical application of needs assessment data to the problem of selecting students for various special programs are outlined. Finally, the feasibility of consolidating presently-isolated information collection efforts into a model for accurate needs assessment and student identification is explored. (PN)